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Adrenaline Interactive

Category: AI in Marketing

AI-powered dynamic in-game advertising platform that automates native product placements inside video games like Fortnite and Roblox Adrenaline Interactive was founded in 2024. The company is led by Max Albert. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Team size: 2-10. Total funding raised: $3.665M. Latest round: Grant. Key investors include Antler, eLab Ventures, Michigan Rise Pre-Seed Fund III, Red Cedar Ventures, 20Fathoms, MSU Research Foundation, MEDC.

Founded
2024
Headquarters
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
Team size
2-10
Total funding
$3.665M

Value proposition

Automates manual in-game product placement using AI, allowing brands to run native, non-disruptive in-game ad campaigns at scale with measurable ROI, replacing expensive custom-built studio work with programmatic ad insertion

Products and solutions

Brand Fusion AI — AI-powered platform that automates in-game product placement, enabling advertisers to seamlessly integrate branded products into games like Fortnite and Roblox using existing brand assets (logos, images, media kits) without custom 3D modeling

Unique value

First programmatic, AI-driven platform for native in-game product placement that repurposes existing brand assets (no custom 3D modeling needed), with IAB-standard measurement and real sales attribution

Target customer

Fortune 500 brands and advertisers seeking to reach Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences through authentic in-game product placements; game studios (especially UGC platforms like Fortnite Creative and Roblox) seeking monetization

Industries served

Advertising / AdTech, Gaming, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Entertainment, Retail

Technology advantage

AI-driven automated reskinning of in-game assets using brand media kits; programmatic ad placement with IAB-standard metrics; 30% commission model (70% to game studios); ability to run campaigns without custom 3D asset creation; incremental sales measurement capability

How they differentiate

Focuses specifically on native product placement (not pop-ups/billboards) using AI to repurpose existing brand assets without custom 3D modeling; programmatic marketplace model with 30% take rate; strong Michigan-based ecosystem support; targets UGC platforms like Fortnite Creative and Roblox specifically

Main competitors

Anzu Virtual Reality (programmatic in-game ads), Frameplay (in-game ad placements), Bidstack (in-game programmatic advertising), 4D Sight (backed by Riot Games), Admix (programmatic brand placements in mobile games)

Key partnerships

Antler (startup accelerator), Michigan Rise Pre-Seed Fund III, eLab Ventures (SSBCI 2.0), MSU Research Foundation, MEDC (Michigan Economic Development Corporation), Google Cloud ($100K in credits via PitchMI)

Notable customers

Sargento Cheese ($250K campaign), Bomb Pop, H&R Block

Major milestones

2024: Company founded by Max Albert, participated in Antler startup accelerator, 2025-01: Raised $2.09M Series 1 seed round at $10M post-money valuation, 2025-03: Michigan Rise Pre-Seed Fund III investment, 2025-10: Won PitchMI AI & Software regional competition ($375K prize), 2025: Signed Sargento Cheese $250K campaign, 2026-04: Won PitchMI Championship grand prize ($1M investment, total PitchMI winnings $1.375M), Reached 44M daily player reach across studio network

Growth metrics

Grew from 3.5M to 44M daily player reach; $5M in signed LOIs from design partners; Branded placements in games reaching 1M+ daily players

Market positioning

Early-stage startup in the rapidly growing in-game advertising market (expected to nearly triple in coming years), positioned as a programmatic alternative to manual, agency-driven in-game product placement. Winner of Michigan's largest startup competition (PitchMI 2026).

Geographic focus

United States (headquartered in Ann Arbor, MI; CEO based in Austin, TX)

About Max Albert

Ex-Ford Motor Company Software Engineer; Founder of AppStop (game studio, created Deep Pass Jam NFL mobile game, Top 100 iOS sports game); University of Michigan B.S. Computer Science (2014-2019); Former collegiate Hearthstone eSports athlete and national champion; Antler startup accelerator alumnus

Official website: